The Los Angeles Dodgers, despite boasting the best roster in MLB, nearly saw their 2025 campaign fall apart due to injuries. And while they haven’t even taken the field for the start of the new season, it seems like injury issues are already beginning to plague the Dodgers, which isn’t exactly a good sign.
On Monday morning, manager Dave Roberts revealed that utilityman Tommy Edman will begin the year on the injured list as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery. While Edman’s injury status isn’t a major surprise, it forced the front office to make a move involving veteran infielder Santiago Espinal.
Dodgers Sign Santiago Espinal in Free Agency
Espinal broke into the majors back in 2020 with the Toronto Blue Jays, and he eventually carved out a role as a versatile infielder who plays at several different spots for his team. Espinal eventually became a starter for the Blue Jays, and he earned an All-Star selection in 2022 when he hit .267 with seven home runs and 51 RBIs.
While he doesn’t put up gaudy numbers at the plate, Espinal is similar to Edman in the sense that he’s a Swiss Army knife of sorts. However, he has struggled the past two years, which he spent with the Cincinnati Reds. Despite playing in 114 games last season, Espinal finished the campaign with no home runs and just 16 RBIs, while also sporting an ugly .575 OPS.
With Edman out, though, the Dodgers had to react quickly in order to make sure his absence wouldn’t cause problems for the team. That led the team to Espinal, who had not found a home as a free agent this offseason. That changed on Monday, as L.A. signed Espinal to a minor league contract that will see him earn reps for the team while Edman continues to work his way back to full health behind the scenes.
“The Dodgers signed Santiago Espinal. Infield depth,” Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported in a post on X.
Dodgers Hoping Tommy Edman Can Return to Action Soon
GettyDodgers’ manager Dave Roberts confirms this star won’t be ready for Opening Day.
Edman certainly isn’t the most important player on the Dodgers’ roster, but his ability to hold his own at the plate, while filling in at several different spots on the field, makes him a very valuable player for the team, especially when injuries begin to pile up. Espinal will get the job done in his absence, but it’s clear that Los Angeles is a better team when it has Edman at its disposal.
For the time being, though, L.A. will have to get by without Edman. How long he will be out for is unknown, but in the meantime, Espinal has an opportunity to carve out a role for himself with the Dodgers. He’s only on a minor league deal, so nothing is guaranteed, but if Espinal stars during Spring Training, he could find himself having a shot to crack the team’s Opening Day roster, which is a development that surely would make Los Angeles and its fans happy.
Dodgers Sign Veteran to Add Infield Depth After Tommy Edman Injury News